Municipal damage adds up to $288,000 for Stonington in wake of Sandy

Stonington - Preliminary estimates show that Hurricane Sandy resulted in $288,000 in municipal damage and costs here. The figures compiled by Director of Finance Maryanna Stevens will be used to obtain reimbursement from FEMA.

Stevens said Monday that the town expended at least $50,700 in overtime for police officers, highway department and transfer station workers during and after the storm. That number will climb as overtime for Town Hall staff who worked during the storm is not yet available.

There is at least $118,000 of damage to the Town Dock, roads and the Fourth District Voting Hall in Mystic, where a 275-gallon oil tank ruptured, spilling oil onto four adjacent properties. The damage estimate is likely to grow as an inspection is done of damage to the piers at the Town Dock. The Masons Island causeway needs repairs as does Boulder Avenue on Lords Point, which buckled.

The town has also paid contractors $30,000 to do work such as tree cutting and another $44,000 is reimbursable for the use of town equipment for storm purposes. Up until Sunday, the town has waived $14,000 in fees for residents disposing of debris at the transfer station and that figure will grow.

For residents and businesses that suffered damage, FEMA officials will have a mobile disaster recovery center set up behind the Human Services Department beginning Friday to help residents file damage claims.

The office will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Residents and businesses are also encouraged to register with FEMA before visiting the recovery center by calling (800) 621-FEMA (3362) or going online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. For those with speech or hearing disabilities, the TTY number is (800) 462-7585.

Residents and businesses are also asked to call (860) 599-7584 or 599-7583 to report damage. This will help the town compile a damage assessment for the state.

Schools, which has been slated to be closed Tuesday for Election Day will now be open to help make up for the five days lost last week. Extra police officers will be stationed at Deans Mill School, the third district polling place. Residents are still able to dispose of brush and storm debris at the transfer station for free.